The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-09-02
DEER CREEK FARMERS CLUB



wheat Growing and Buying Fertilizers
The Deer Creek Farmers Club met last Satur-
day afternoon. at Jacob Shertzer $ Hotel. Church.
Mr.. VIM. Webster was called to the chair, Mr..
Jas. W. Hanna being the Secretary.
Besides the active members there were present
. Rev. G. ID. Wilson. s. NJ. Lee, George j. Finney,
Jas. II. Harklns and Jacob shertzer.
the subject announced for discussion was as
follows: Under existing circumstances is a
wheat and buying as large quantity OF fertil-
Zers rs heretotoreY
farming pursued here he would answer the ques-
lion in the affirmative. The grain market is de-
pressed but we don't know what the price may
be a year hence. In order TO get grass we must
fcrtillze for wheat and ought to put on as much
as we dill year ago. II we can raise from p to
20 bushels OF wheat to the acre 1t will pay even II
IN price is low. Mr.. Archer thought the short
age in the wheat crop this year in this neigh
borhuod, Is due, in some degree, TO the fact that
Il was not put in at the proper time or not
put in properly. Some crops are good but most
OF the wheat is verS poor in quality.
WIN. u. Hopkins remarked that he is inclined to
follow his usual practice, although the crop was
a failure this year, and will put in as much or a
iittlc more wheat than usual. The reason our
wheat is not good Is that some Of it was not put
in properly and was sowed late. One of his
fields, sowed from the 2Oth to 18th OF September,
Welded 10 bushels to the acre.
Hargraves Spadng thought farmers better fol-
low their usual custom and put in as much wheat
and use as much fertilizer as usual
Thomas Lochary said that the fact that prices
are low and the crop is poor this year. is no
proof that they will be the same next year. We
ought, he thought. TO put in our usual amount of
wheat and IL possible use more fertilizers. He
was OF opinion that the fly does less injury to
wheat that has been literally fertiliZed than
wheat on which but little has been applied Too
much pains cannot be taken with the wheat crop.
SIme wheat, last year, was TWO weeks later in
coming up in some pIrts OF his held than in
Others.
James Lee said that whether it is best to put in
as much wheat or not, he finds that farmers gen
reducing their
amount of corn ground will be planted but not
more than one-hal as much fallow ground will
be plowed for wheat. He has followed wheat
with wheat but thinks the plan wrong. We
should pillow down more vegetable matter, clover.
cheaper than 1t is in Hartford. In Kent county
as much can be produced with an application
OF South Carolina Rock alone as with the highest
priced fertilizers. He is putting in his usual
quantity of wheat
Bennett H. Barnes believes in sowing the usual
amount of wheat and in trying TO raise more
bushels to the acre. lie had found kainit and
salt very valuable fertil zers for wheat. He had
never missed a crop Of wheat when he used them.
Last fall he sowod about the 2ii or 2ith of Sep
TENDER and mis- father from the 18th of Septem-
Der to the 18th of October, and his father had
twice as large yield as he had. Both crops were
nut In well. He always plows his stalk ground
which is red soil, rolls drills the wheat and rolls
1t again Instead of decreasing bis acreage Of
wheat he would put in the usual quantity, use
little more fertilizer and try II again.
wm. d. Lee did not think 1t profitable to raise
wheat at present prices He can make more by
pisturng his land than by blowing it for wheat.
The first wheat he sowed last fall, about 18th OF
September, was the worst he had. His corn
ground wheat, sowed from list to 10th October,
was the best.
Geo. ]. Finncy said wheat don't pay but he is
sowing little because he don't know what else
To do. If prices do not increase he will change
his system of farming. This year he raised *
bushels to the acre. and it melted him only -
cents per bushel. The only way to get a good
crop OF grass is to fertilize the wheat heavily.
X John Rogers did not see how farmer can
FlfNfh f a IA In Rrnn md
low prices this year. 1t would be bad policy to
fertilZe less literally. but we had bstter try TO
make crop, II possible, by using more fertilizers.
Some poor crops this year may be attributed to
bad farming, but the general failure was from
causes beyond the control OF the farmer. chad
obtained as good results in raising wheat with
South Carolina Rock as with bone.
Jas. W. Hanna said 1t Is necessary to sow wheat
low and there is very little profit in 1t but we
should SOW as much as we need and fertize
heavily; tits always best to prepare the ground
well and fertilize literally. He considers from
900 to 600 lbs. of bone and phosphate per acre
good dessing, and would prefer to SOW one half
Of it broadcast and drill the remainder in with
the wheat.
5. N. Lee said that If farmer is blowing up
his land and sowing wheat with view to profit
FIR m the crop, after deducting expenses, 1t might
possibly be necessary to curtail the crop little.
lint in growing wheat in the general course of
farming farmer should, IL possible, hold a
steady hand and go on as usual. On many farms
too much wheat is sowed for their size, but we
must sow a certain amount. He thought the
climatic influences than to bad farming. He had
known few days difference in sowing to make
a material difference in two crops OF wheat on
the same farm, by some influence of the season
which the farmer can not control nor fOresee.
The Hessian fly sometimes ruins field sowed
early and at other times the late wheat suffers
most The most successful wheat raisers, he has
observed. SOW from the LIST to the 9Th Of October.
jacob SherZer said he would decrease his acre
age but not cease raising wheat altogether. He
would prepare the ground as usual and SOW as
soon as he could thereafter; II the fly appeared
and let them cat 1t down TO the ground and kill
the fly.
Mr. Finney remarked that he had tried that
plan and the stock would not eat the rank growth
where the fly was.
VIM. Webster said he seemed to DO in the mi
norty. With present prospects he would advise
a reduction in the amount OF wheat sowed but
mbrc attention to the preparation of the ground.
He would get II in from September Nth to Octo-
her 18th. Last yearOne OF his fields carefully pre-
not be put in good condition on account of tho
drought produced bushels to the acre. He con-
,cluded that IL would be well for farmers to de-
crease their acreage onc-half and apply more
fertilizer TO the acre than heretofore If they
Hose crop they are no worse Off, because their
good crop they will be repaid. III we prepare the
gruund thoroughly, SOW good seed and harvest
the crop properly we have reason TO expect
good yield.
The co.'s mittee on the road question was grant
cd further time.
MIR. Geo NJ. Jcwctt was elected an active men,
Der of the club.
The uext meeting will be held at the residence
af j. W. Baker, October LIST. The topic discussed
viii be: THE Saving and Selection of Field and
CARBON Seeds